Deontay Wilder has accused promoter Eddie Hearn of protecting his star investment by not pitting the two champions together.

Wilder is ready to put his WBC title on the line against Luis Ortiz this weekend but would much rather have been fighting Anthony Joshua on March 31 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

That honor falls to WBO ruler Joseph Parker and Wilder is adamant both Hearn and Joshua are hell-bent on avoiding him in order to keep their undefeated streak alive for the foreseeable future.

“We’re ready on this side of the pond,” said Wilder in the build-up to his big battle with Ortiz. “I don’t believe Hearn wants this fight at all. Joshua is like a cow, Eddie Hearn is milking him for every dollar.

“Hearn knows I’m a dangerous factor to his operation. There have been no negotiations at all, no deal has been offered. But the world wants to see me and Joshua get in the ring.”

“I don’t think Joshua has enough confidence in himself to fight me. It’s all on them. If he really wants it, he can make it happen.”

On the Joshua v Parker encounter itself and how it may end, Wilder added: “I see the Parker v Joshua fight going into the later rounds. I like Parker’s movement.

“With Joshua’s big frame and being muscular, that’s OK to look the part but can he get out of the way of Parker’s punches and maintain his stamina holding all that?”

The American’s own promoter Lou DiBella has since waded in by stating Hearn is out of touch with boxing due to his privileged upbringing as the New Yorker continues to keep his fingers crossed on a deal being done in 2018.

Jarrell Miller and Alexander Povetkin have been named as potentials for Joshua by Hearn recently, although the Matchroom boss did release details of his dream to stage two bouts between the pair of heavyweight champions – with one being in the UK and one taking place Stateside.